Sadiq Khan’s Peerage and Political Reactions
Sadiq Khan, the Labour mayor of London, was among 26 new peers announced by Prime Minister Keir Starmer on July 16, 2026, in a move that immediately drew scrutiny. The appointment, finalized by the King on Starmer’s advice, marked a significant shift for Khan, who has served as London’s mayor since 2016 and is the first Muslim mayor of a major Western capital. The Guardian reported that Khan’s elevation came days before Starmer’s expected departure from Downing Street, though Downing Street sources described it as part of a regular honours list rather than a resignation-related gesture.
Khan’s office emphasized his commitment to London’s future, stating, London gave Sadiq the opportunities to go from a council estate to being mayor of London, and his focus will continue to be ensuring that all Londoners get the same shot at reaching their full potential that London gave him and his family.
However, the timing of the appointment raised questions, as Starmer has already appointed 66 peers since taking office two years ago. The BBC noted that Khan’s peers included figures like agricultural economist Julia Aglionby and former Barnsley councillor Hannah Kitching, who were lauded by Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey as right skills, experience and values to help us hold the Government to account.
Reform UK’s Criticism of the Appointments
The appointments drew sharp criticism from Reform UK, which was not granted any peerages. Leader Nigel Farage condemned the move, stating, Once again there is nothing for Reform and we get an even more unrepresentative upper house,
according to the BBC. Farage’s remarks echoed broader concerns about the House of Lords’ unelected nature, a topic that has long plagued UK politics. Labour’s 2022 plan to abolish the Lords and replace it with a new, reformed upper chamber
was later diluted, leaving critics like Andy Burnham to call for a smaller, democratic chamber
that is more representative of and accountable to the people of this country,
as the BBC reported.
The Electoral Reform Society’s chief executive, Darren Hughes, echoed these sentiments, arguing that Labour’s supporters would be “baffled” by the latest appointments given the party’s stated commitment to reform. The next prime minister needs to make good on the promise of reform and turn the Lords into a smaller, democratic chamber,
Hughes said, per the BBC. This criticism highlights the tension between political expediency and the push for institutional change.
For more on this story, see Sadiq Khan Joins House of Lords Among 26 New Peerage Appointments.
The Composition of the New Peers
The final honours list included 16 Labour appointments, five from the Liberal Democrats, three from the Conservatives, and two crossbench peers. Among the Conservatives, businessman David Ross—known for donating £10,000 to Kemi Badenoch’s leadership campaign—was named a peer, per The Guardian. The Conservatives also included former army chief General Sir Patrick Sanders and Swaran Singh, a professor of social and community psychiatry at the University of Warwick. Aljazeera noted that the Conservatives held 246 seats in the Lords, compared to Labour’s 216, giving the opposition a numerical advantage in the upper chamber.
Aljazeera highlighted that the crossbench peers included former judge Sir Brian Leveson, who led the 2011 Leveson Inquiry into press misconduct. Starmer’s decision to exclude Reform UK from the list underscored the party’s marginalization, despite its seven MPs in the Commons following Nigel Farage’s recent resignation.
What Comes Next for the House of Lords?
The appointments come as Andy Burnham prepares to succeed Starmer as Labour leader and prime minister on July 20, 2026. Burnham has previously called for a senate of regions and nations
to replace the current system, a proposal that could reshape the Lords’ structure. The Guardian reported that Khan’s role in this transition remains unclear, as he has not yet confirmed whether he will seek a fourth term as mayor in 2028.
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